AMD Phenom X3 8450

The Pros:Good value - lots of performance for the price. Runs stable and relatively cool with the stock heatsink/fan. Good overclocking capabilities - allows for extra performance with minimal tweaking.

The Cons:Default clock speed is somewhat underpowered for gaming - needs to be overclocked for optimal performance. Doesn't come with the standard AMD sticker. Aging part - might be hard to find.

The only processor line to utilize 3 cores, the Phenom X3 8450 attempts to strike a balance between number of usable cores and price. In reality a true Phenom X4, the 8450 contains a malfunctioning core which was disabled after manufacture.